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Reviews
Taggart: Forbidden Fruit (1994)
Taggart and the case of the fertile doctor
Joan Mathieson arrives in Glasgow to be with her daughter who is expecting her first child. However, she reacts very badly when she learns the baby has been conceived by donor insemination. Shortly after she is found murdered and suspicion falls on her son in law whom she blamed and humiliated at a family meeting.
Meanwhile Peter Livingston, who was Taggart's partner, before Jardine visits his old boss with a request. He wants the Taggarts to be be god parents to his new child.
Meanwhile DC Rob Gibson makes a horrifying discovery. After his baby receives a blood transfusion the hospital reveals that the donor sperm for his baby is Dr Colin Millar from the fertility clinic. Further investigations reveal that the Doctor is father to sixty children including Peter Livingston's child.
Then Jackie Reid discovers a link to a missing man in Joan Mathieson's home - just before it is burnt to the ground with her in it.
This is a clever episode and definitely the most bizarre. Probably because the original plot of the doctor inseminating clients with his own sperm is based on a real case.
The return of Peter Livingston and the friction it causes with Jardine is a charm to watch. This is one of the best episodes of Taggart I've seen and sadly we are coming to the conclusion of Mark McManus's time with the show.
Taggart: Death Without Dishonour Part One (1993)
Taggart and the cab company war.
This is not one of the best episodes of vintage Taggart. However, fans of Mark McManus will not be disappointed.
The opening scene cuts between two stories. A taxi driver arrives at a fare only to be attacked by a mobile crane. The driver,who is the daughter of the owner, is injured and ends up in a coma. Meanwhile a reserve soldier is killed because of a prank that goes horribly wrong on the eve of being shipped out to Gulf War 1.
The story line moves forward two years as Jim Taggart and his team try to protect witnesses in a case against one of the tax companies. Unfortunately witnesses start turning of dead. The first to be murdered is the prosecuting barrister. The obvious suspect is the competing tax company owner.
In another story line Alisan Taggart, Jim's daughter, has moved in with her boyfriend and is partners in a wine bar. An Australian, Bill Hamilton played brilliantly by Peter O'Brien, enters her life and causes complications.
Unfortunately the storyline has been used too many times. I saw it coming long before the conclusion. However Taggart fans will not be disappointed. All the characters are there: The biscuit, the forensic pathologist, Jackie Reid and Jardine. Special mention should be made of Jean Taggart who shines in this episode.
Inspector Morse: Dead on Time (1992)
Morse and the ex fiancée
Morse is called in to investigate the apparent suicide of Henry Fallon who, suffering from a fatal disease, appears to have shot himself. Complicating matters is the reappearance of the victims wife who was, at one time, engaged to be married to Morse - Susan Fallon.
Suspician falls on Peter Rhodes,who was responsible for the deaths of Henry and Susan Fallon's daughter and grandchild. However, nothing about this murder is what it appears.
This episode fully explores the relationship between Morse and Lewis which has not, in my opinion, been given full credit. There are few partnerships that have the chemistry of these two characters.
After all the hype surrounding this episode it failed to live up to expectation. Perhaps I should watch it again and give it another chance.
Inspector Morse: Happy Families (1992)
The case of the murdered aristocrat.
This is Morse at its best.
Sir John Balcombe is found brutally murdered at his home, Balcombe House. Morse immediately comes under pressure from Chief Superintendent Holdsby, brilliantly played by Alun Armstrong of "New Tricks." Holdsby is ambitious and has his sights set on a promotion.
At the press conference Morse is patronizing towards the media and comes to the attention of some unscrupulous journalist who soon turn the focus on the "clever cop." Soon after Harry Balcombe, a son, is found murdered and suspicion falls on the surviving brother - James who is played by Martin Clunes in one of his best performances. However, he too is murdered in strange circumstances; shot dead at a site with a spade in his hand. Morse investigates and unearths a skeleton that has been buried for 20 years.
Once again Morse solves a murder as if it were a cross word puzzle!